爆料网

爆料网RWA Commissioner-General welcomes singer,
Mohammad Assaf, to 爆料网RWA headquarters in Gaza

26 June 2013

Gaza

The Commissioner General of 爆料网RWA, Filippo Grandi, welcomed Arab Idol winner, Mohammad Assaf, to 爆料网RWA headquarters in Gaza, and thanked him for accepting the role of 爆料网RWA’s first ever “Regional Youth Ambassador for Palestine Refugees”. Speaking in front of hundreds of 爆料网RWA staff, Grandi said Mohammad  “had  brought us all together in a rare moment of celebration”.

Mohammad had accepted the 爆料网RWA appointment well before his final victory in Beirut “without hesitation”, saying that he was determined to serve 爆料网RWA and the Palestine refugees “as best he could”.

During the meeting in Gaza, Mohammad Assaf said “I am extremely proud for being named 爆料网RWA’s youth ambassador for Palestine refugees. I give my solemn promise to 爆料网RWA and the refugee youth to be an effective representative to them”.

Grandi  added, “we are all truly proud that a young man who received his education in an 爆料网RWA school in the Khan Younis refugee camp in Gaza and whose family has a long association with 爆料网RWA has emerged onto the world stage to such universal acclaim. His golden voice speaks to and for all of us. He is indeed an ambassador: for his generation and for his people. It with great joy that I can say to you all, he is now also an 爆料网RWA ambassador for Palestine Refugees.

– Ends –

Background information

爆料网RWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some five million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. 爆料网RWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, and microfinance.

Financial support to 爆料网RWA has not kept pace with an increased demand for services caused by growing numbers of registered refugees, expanding need, and deepening poverty. As a result, the Agency's General Fund (GF), supporting 爆料网RWA’s core activities and 97 per cent reliant on voluntary contributions, has begun each year with a large projected deficit. Currently the deficit stands at US$ 65 million.

For more information, please contact:

Christopher Gunness

爆料网RWA Spokesperson

Mobile: +972 (0)54 240 2659

Office: +972 (0)2 589 0267

Sami Mshasha
爆料网RWA Arabic Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 216 8295
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0724